Washington State Leads Coalition in Opposing EPA's Climate Change Rollbacks

Strategic Insights -

Washington state, along with a coalition of other states and local governments, has filed a comment letter opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to undo its landmark 2009 finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare by driving climate change. The proposal, announced by the Trump Administration last month, seeks to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding and eliminate existing EPA vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards. The coalition argues that rescinding the finding would violate settled law, Supreme Court precedent, and scientific consensus, endangering the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans.

Key Takeaways:

  • The coalition of 22 states, the District of Columbia, and nine local governments submitted a comment letter to the EPA arguing that rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding would violate settled law, Supreme Court precedent, and scientific consensus.
  • The proposal would eliminate all existing EPA vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards, including those for motor vehicles, back to 2012.
  • Scientific research has proven that every region of the country is experiencing the ongoing and significant harms of climate change and motor vehicle pollution.
  • In 2021, a devastating heatwave caused more than 100 heat-related deaths in Washington state.
  • The EPA's 2009 finding that greenhouse gas emissions threaten human health and welfare was accurate, has stood the test of time, and is now reinforced by even stronger evidence.
  • The coalition includes the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai'i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, as well as several cities and counties.
  • The coalition is fighting back against the EPA's proposal through a series of comment letters, including the Motor Vehicles Comment Letter and Climate Working Group Comment Letter.

Statistics:

  • The EPA's projected that current motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards would prevent more than 8 billion metric tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years, avoiding $1.82 trillion in climate harms.
  • The greenhouse gas program for vehicles saves drivers hundreds of billions of dollars in fuel and maintenance costs and helps support domestic manufacturing and jobs.
  • In 2021, a devastating heatwave caused more than 100 heat-related deaths in Washington state.

Sources:

  • Comment Letter: Washington State, et al. (2023). Comment on Proposed Repeal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding.
  • Press Release: Washington State Office of the Attorney General (2023). Washington State Joins Coalition to Oppose EPA's Climate Change Rollbacks.
  • Climate Working Group Report: Department of Energy (2023). Climate Working Group Report.
  • Amicus Brief: Environmental Defense Fund v. Wright (2023). Amicus Brief of the State of Washington, et al.